As Legolas and Gimli wander in the forest of Mirkwood, evil comes upon them. Legolas is knocked into a magic river and falls ill. Worse, they recieve a warning-"THE GATHERING'S BEGUN." The entire fellowship is in danger--but from whom?

AN: Welcome to my first chaptered LOTR story!! This story is not meant to
be slash or romance, and should not be taken as such--it simply highlights
the friendship between Legolas and Gimli. Hope you enjoy, and please
review!

"Earendil was a mariner/That tarried in Arvernien/He built a boat of
timber felled/In Nimbrethil to journey in..."

Prince Legolas of Mirkwood's voice rang out loud and clear in the
song Bilbo Baggins and King Aragorn of Gondor had penned before the War of
the Ring. He and his dear friend Gimli had just come from visiting the
Glittering Caves, and now it was time for Legolas to return the favor and
introduce Gimli to his home in Mirkwood.

"I swear, Legolas, if you do not stop singing your abonimable songs,
my axe shall hew an elf-neck before the day is through..." grumbled Gimli
the dwarf. Gimli was not fond of forests--only his deep love for Legolas
had gotten him to enter this one. He was beginning to regret his choice.

Legolas laughed. "Why should I not sing, friend? I'm home at last!"

Gimil sighed. "If you must...I'll just have to stop up my ears all
day."

Grinning, Legolas burst into another song. Gimli groaned, and began
to hum loudly to block out his companion's song.

All of a sudden, Legolas froze. His ears had picked up a strange
sound. Gimli looked over at Legolas. "What--"

"Sssssh!" Legolas listened hard. Gimli gazed around into the dark
trees, black under the falling evening, but could see nothing. "What did
you hear?" Gimli breathed to Legolas.

"Of course not," Legolas added, barely restraining from adding,
"Stupid dwarf." He continued, "Elven footsteps are hard for even elves to
hear, and I heard these steps plainly."

"What are we to do?" asked Gimli, fingering his axe.

"We'll keep going," Legolas mumbled. He silently drew his bow from
behind his back and notched an arrow to the string. "Get your axe out. If
it is hostile, it might come upon us suddenly."

Gimli complied, and the two companions continued on their path,
tense, alert and listening intently for sounds of pursuit. The footfalls
continued to be just behind them.

Suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, Legolas and Gimli came across
something that stopped them in their tracks. A river had appeared out of
nowhere, roaring and tumbling right across their path. The air above the
river shimmered as if with great heat, but it was obviously magic.

"What is this?" Gimli exclaimed, bending over to peer at the river.
"I did not know magic rivers flowed in this part of your forest, Legolas."

"They don't," mumbled Legolas, a little rattled. "I have been this
way many times, and there was never a river here before."

"It is some sorcery!" a grim-faced Gimli said. "Something IS
following us, and I'll bet my axe-haft it doesn't like us."

Legolas had turned from the river and was scanning the trees.
Suddenly he lunged at Gimli, knocking him to the ground. "Wha-" exclaimed
the alarmed dwarf. Legolas silenced his friend with a look, got off the
dwarf, leaned over, and picked up a dart that was in exactly the spot where
Gimli had been standing. The dart pierced a piece of paper. Legolas drew
the paper off the dart, pocketed the dart, and unfolded the paper.
Squatting so Gimli could see the letter, Legolas began to read.

"The hobbits--Aragorn--Gandalf! They are in danger!" Gimli exclaimed.
He looked warily around. "Come, friend, we must get out of here and send
word to our friends, before--"

He was silenced by a wooshing sound, and a thwack like something
hitting flesh. Legolas cried out, and Gimli turned, to see his friend's
eyes roll back into his head, a black feathered arrow portruding from his
side. Legolas began to fall backwards into the creek. Gimli gave a cry
and lunged forward to catch him, but too late--the elf was swallowed up by
the tumbling black waters.